Philosophy: Epistemology, Metaphysics, and Ethics Quiz

Introduction to Philosophy

• Philosophy involves asking questions about fundamental principles that underlie human endeavors
• Philosophical questions can be relevant to everyday life and scientific practice

Types of Philosophical Questions

• Esoteric questions: e.g., "Why is there something, rather than nothing?"
• Practical questions: e.g., "Is it morally wrong to eat meat?"
• Questions that impact day-to-day life: e.g., "Is it compatible with vegetarianism to own a pet?"
• Scientific questions: e.g., "What makes an organism 'alive'?" (biology), "Is gravity an independent force?" (physics), "Do characteristics like 'intelligence' exist objectively?" (psychology)

Course Overview

• The course covers the central topics of philosophy: epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics
• The course consists of two meetings per week: lectures and tutorials
• The Canvas page is the central location for all course information

Epistemology and Metaphysics

• Epistemology: the study of knowledge and related concepts, including what can be known and how we know it
• Metaphysics: the study of the nature of reality, including the world and its possibilities, and the relationship between mind and body

Methods of Philosophy

• The primary method of philosophy is the argument: a series of statements meant to convince or justify a conclusion
• Arguments are used to convince others or to justify a conclusion

Examples of Arguments

• Example 1: "Yici went to class yesterday or she slept in. She didn't sleep in. So, she went to class yesterday."
• Example 2: "Every dog likes to be scratched. Tarski is a dog. Therefore, Tarski likes to be scratched."

Test your knowledge on the core areas of philosophy - epistemology, metaphysics, and ethics. Explore questions related to what we can know, how we know it, the nature of reality, and ethical principles.